Golf tee

ABSTRACT

A golf tee is disclosed as having an anchoring member for penetrating into the ground on a golf course, multiple receptacle members of different heights can be selectively attached to the anchoring member by means of magnetic attraction for supporting a golf ball for striking by a golf player with a golf club, and a cord member threaded through the anchoring member to link the receptacle members to the anchoring member so that the receptacle members can be retrieved for repeated uses. 
     A variation to the above design can be used on the golf driving range for practice. This tee comprises of two elements. The base anchoring element is to be inserted through the mat as anchor. The top mounting element will be inserted into the base element with fix/adjustable height to meet the preference of the golfer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a golf tee for use in playing a golf game and more particularly, to a detachable golf tee, which comprises an anchoring member and a number of reusable receptacle members of different heights for use with the anchoring member selectively. The fallen location of the used receptacle member helps the players judge the striking performance.

2. Description of the Related Art

A golf tee is a stand used to support a golf ball so that the player can strike the golf ball. A conventional golf tee is a single solid device made out of wooden or plastic material. A solid golf tee will break easily after several uses or when get hit directly by a golf club. Furthermore, when the player hits the golf ball, the golf tee may be forced to jump out of ground, then the player may have to spend time finding the lost golf tee.

In order to eliminate the aforesaid problem, a retractable golf tee is developed. As shown in FIG. 8, the retractable golf tee A is comprised of a receptacle A1, a first spring member A2, a second spring member A3, a barrel A4, a spring holder A5, and an anchor nail A6. When the player strikes the golf ball, the receptacle A1 will be forced away from the anchor nail A6 and then immediately returned to its former position on the anchor nail A6 by means of the spring force of the first spring member A2 and the second spring member A3. This structure of auto-return golf tee A is complicated. When one component part of the auto-return golf tee A is damaged, the whole assembly becomes useless. Further, the spring members A3 and A4 wear quickly with use.

Further, when an experienced golf player hit the golf ball away from the golf tee, the player may check the fallen position of the golf tee to judge the direction of rotation the golf ball and the striking performance. However, the aforesaid auto-return golf tee does not provide this function. Because the receptacle A1 is automatically returned to the anchor nail A6 after the hit, the player cannot judge the direction of rotation of the golf ball subject to the position of the receptacle A1.

A set of detachable golf tee is developed that consists of an anchor nail and a receptacle. After hitting the golf ball, the player can check the fallen position of the receptacle and judge the direction of rotation of the golf ball subject to the fallen position of the receptacle. In case the player hits the bottom side of the gravity center of the golf ball, the driving force of the golf club will force the receptacle to fall to the front side, and the golf ball will roll backwards. In case the player hits the top side of the gravity center of the golf ball, the driving force of the golf club will force the golf ball to rotate in counter-clockwise direction. Subject to the fallen position of the receptacle, the player can judge the striking performance. However, when the receptacle is driven away, the player may have to spend a lot of time to find the lost receptacle.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a golf tee that eliminates the drawbacks of the aforesaid various prior art designs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. According to one aspect of the present invention, the golf tee comprises an anchoring member for fastening to the ground in a golf course, a receptacle member for mounting on the anchoring member to support a golf ball for striking by a golf player with a golf club, and a cord member inserted through the anchoring member to link the receptacle member to the anchoring member so that the receptacle member can be retrieved for a repeated use. According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of receptacle members of different heights may be linked to the anchoring member by the cord member so that the player can select the suitable receptacle member for supporting the golf ball on the anchoring member subject to the type of the golf club used. According to still another aspect of the present invention, an iron member and a magnet are respectively attached to the receptacle member and the anchoring member so that the receptacle member can be reattached securely to the anchoring member by magnetic attraction. Furthermore, the multiple receptacle members that are linked to the anchoring member by the cord member can be selectively used to guide the striking direction when the player is striking the golf ball on the receptacle member that is selected and mounted on the anchoring member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a golf tee in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing an application example of the first embodiment of the present invention (I).

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing an application example of the first embodiment of the present invention (II).

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing an application example of the first embodiment of the present invention (III).

FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of a golf tee in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional assembly view of a golf tee in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a golf tee in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a golf tee according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a golf tee in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprised of a receptacle member 1, an anchoring member 2, and a cord member 3.

The receptacle member 1 has a receptacle head 11 for holding a golf ball so that the player can strike the golf ball, a shank 12 extending downward from the underside of the receptacle head 11, and an iron member 13 securely fastened to the underside of the shank 12 opposite to the receptacle head 11.

The anchoring member 2 is a pointed bar that can penetrate the ground to hold the receptacle member 1 for supporting a golf ball, having a flat top head 21, a magnet 22 securely fastened to the underside of the top head 21, and a plurality of wire holes 23 spaced around the magnet 22.

The cord member 3 has one end connected to one wire hole 23 in the anchoring member 2 and the other end connected to the shank 12 of the receptacle member 1, and therefore the receptacle member 1 and the anchoring member 2 are linked by the cord member 3.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the receptacle member 1 is positioned on the top head 21 of the anchoring member 2, the iron member 13 and the magnet 22 are attracted together, thereby securing the receptacle member 1 to the anchoring member 2 firmly. After installation of the gold tee, a golf ball 4 is supported on the receptacle head 11 of the receptacle member 1 so that a player can strike the golf ball 4. After striking, the cord member 3 keeps the receptacle member 1 linked to the anchoring member 2 and can be retrieved for repeated uses. Further, when the player hits the receptacle member 1 accidentally, the receptacle member 1 is immediately forced away from the anchoring member 2 to dissipate the striking force. Therefore, the receptacle member 1 will not be damaged easily. Further, through the flat top head 21 of the anchoring member 1, the player can hold and carry the anchoring member 1 with the hand conveniently. The magnet 22 can be made having a top recess for positioning of the bottom end of the shank 12 of the receptacle member 1 accurately and positively.

Further, a set of receptacle members 1 of different heights may be provided for use with the anchoring member 2 selectively subject to the type of the golf club (wood club or iron club) that is used by the player, thereby increasing the hitting accuracy.

In the aforesaid embodiment, the receptacle member 1 has an iron member 13 securely attached to the underside of the shank 12, and the anchoring member 2 has an magnet 22 mounted at the center of the flat top head 21 for securing the iron member 13 of the receptacle member 1 by means of magnetic attraction. In the aforesaid embodiment, the flat top head 21 of the anchoring member 2 (the magnet 22) is made with a recessed top side for receiving the downwardly protruding bottom side (the shank 12) of the receptacle member 1. Alternatively, the receptacle member 1 can be made with a recessed bottom side (the iron member 13 can be made having a recessed bottom side), and the magnet 22 can be made with protruding stem over the top side of the flat top head 21 of the anchoring member 2 for engaging into the recessed bottom side of the receptacle member 1.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIG. 2 again, when the player strikes the golf ball 4, the iron member 13 of the receptacle member 1 will be disengaged from the magnet 22 of the anchoring member 2 to dissipate the striking force, preventing damage to the receptacle member 1. After disengagement of the receptacle member 1 from the anchoring member 2 and falling of the receptacle member 1 to the ground, the player can judge the direction of rotation of the golf ball 44 subject to the location where the receptacle 1 fell to the ground.

FIG. 5 shows a golf tee in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, two receptacle members 1 of different heights are respectively linked to one anchoring member 2 by a cord member 3. The cord member 3 is threaded through the two opposite wire holes 23 in the anchoring member 2, and then the two distal ends of the cord member 3 are respectively and transversely inserted through the shanks 12 of the two receptacle members 1 and mounted with a respective rounded endpiece 31 or 32. During the golf game, the player can selectively attach one of the receptacle members 1 to the anchoring member 2 subject to the type of the golf club in use. Further, the player can position the rounded endpieces 31 and 32 on one target line or two different target lines to guide the striking.

FIG. 6 is a sectional assembly view of a golf tee in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the anchoring member 2 has a substantially angled through hole 24, which has two distal ends respectively extending to the peripheral wall and the center of the flat top head 21 (the magnet 22); the receptacle member 1 has a substantially angled through hole 14, which has two distal ends respectively extending to the peripheral wall and the center of the shank 12 (the iron member 13); the cord member 3 is threaded through the angled through hole 24 of the anchoring member 2 and the angled through hole 14 of the receptacle member 1, having two distal ends respectively secured with a respective rounded endpiece 31 or 32. Before striking the golf ball, the golfer can position the rounded endpieces 31 and/or 32 on the ground to guide the striking. After striking, the golfer can pull the cord member 3 to retrieve the receptacle member 1 to the anchoring member 2. Further, the cord member 3 can be a spring cord, an elastic cord, or a regular rope.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a golf tee in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, a stand 5 is provided for supporting the anchoring member 2 and the receptacle member 1. The stand 5 is preferably molded from rubber. This design is for use on an artificial lawn or floor pad. Directly anchoring the anchoring member 2 to the artificial lawn or floor pad will damage the artificial lawn or floor pad. The golf tee of the present invention is applicable to the driving range.

As described above, the golf tee of the present invention has the following benefits:

1. When the player strikes the golf ball 4, the receptacle member 1 will be disconnected from the anchoring member 2 to dissipate the striking force and prevent damage. Further, after the player hits the golf ball 4, the fallen receptacle member 1 is kept linked to the anchoring member 2, and the player can pick up the receptacle member 1 for repeated uses.

2. Through the flat top head 21 of the anchoring member 2, the player can hold and carry the anchoring member 2 conveniently.

3. By means of the cord member 3, two or more receptacle members 1 of different heights may be inserted to the anchoring member 2 through the mat, and the player can select the suitable height of the receptacle member 1 for use with the anchoring member 2.

4. By means of magnetic attraction between the iron member 13 at the shank 12 of the receptacle member 1 and the magnet 22 at the flat top head 21 of the anchoring member 2, the receptacle member 1 can be securely reattached to the anchoring member 2 for supporting the golf ball 4 for striking.

5. The cord member 3 has two rounded endpieces 31 and 32 respectively fixedly provided at the two distal ends thereof. The player can use the rounded endpieces 31 and 32 to guide the striking direction of the golf ball 4.

A prototype of the golf tee has been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1˜7. The golf tee functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in details for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the intent and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What the claims are:
 1. A golf tee comprising: an anchoring member for fastening to the ground in a golf course; at least one receptacle member for selectively mounting on the anchoring member to support a golf ball for striking by a golf player with a golf club; and a cord member threaded through the anchoring member to link each of the receptacle member to the anchoring member.
 2. The golf tee as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of said at least one receptacle member is at least 2, and the multiple receptacle members have different heights.
 3. The golf tee as claimed in claim 1, wherein said anchoring member has receiving means disposed at a top side thereof and is adapted to receive at least one of said receptacle member; said at least one receptacle member each has positioning means disposed at a bottom side thereof for securing to the receiving means of said anchoring member.
 4. The golf tee as claimed in claim 3, wherein said receiving means of said anchoring member is a female member, and said positioning means of each of said at least one receptacle member is a male member connectable to the female member of said receiving means of said anchoring member.
 5. The golf tee as claimed in claim 3, wherein said receiving means of said anchoring member is a male member, and said positioning means of each of said at least one receptacle is a female member connectable to the male member of said receiving means of said anchoring member
 6. The golf tee as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a stand for supporting said anchoring member on the ground.
 7. The golf tee as claimed in claim 1, wherein said anchoring member and said at least one receptacle member each have a angled through hole for the passing of said cord member; said cord member has two distal ends respectively inserted through the angled through hole of said anchoring member and the angled through hole of each of said at least one receptacle member and respectively fixedly mounted with a respective rounded endpiece, which has a diameter greater than the angled through hole of said anchoring member and the angled through hole of each of said at least one receptacle member.
 8. The golf tee as claimed in claim 3, wherein said anchoring member has a recessed top head forming said receiving means for receiving the positioning means of one of said at least one receptacle member; said at least one receptacle member each has a receptacle head for supporting a golf ball and a shank downwardly extending from the receptacle head for positioning in said recessed top head of said anchoring member.
 9. The golf tee as claimed in claim 3, wherein the receiving means of said anchoring member is a magnet; the positioning means of each of said at least one receptacle member is an iron member connectable to said magnet by magnetic attraction.
 10. The golf tee as claimed in claim 3, wherein the receiving means of said anchoring member is an iron member; the positioning means of each of said at least one receptacle member is a magnet connectable to said iron member by magnetic attraction. 